Experiment 5 – Operational Amplifier Circuits I: Inverting and Non-Inverting
Amplifiers
Physics 242 - Electronics
Introduction
Op amps are highly versatile integrated circuits used in many applications. In this
initial lab, we will explore the properties of the inverting and non-inverting amplifier
configurations.
Procedure and Questions
1. Adjust the variable voltage supplies on your breadboard to provide +15 V and -15 V.
Test the supply voltages with your multimeter. Then turn off power to your breadboard
before setting up the circuit.
2. Build the inverting amplifier circuit circuit shown above left (with breadboard powered
off). Refer to the pinout diagram above right to determine where to connect power
connections, inputs, and output. We will not use pins 1, 5, and 8; they should be left
unconnected. The positive supply (+15 V) is connected at pin 7 and the negative supply
at pin 4. Use a 1 kHz sine wave from the function generator as your input signal, and
measure the input and output signals with the 'scope. Use 1 = 1 k and 2 = 5 k, 10
k, 50 k, 100 k, 200 kone at a time. Measure each resistance value. For each
value of 2 , measure the gain of your inverting amplifier, which is the ratio of the output
amplitude to the input amplitude. Note that you may have to adjust the amplitude of your
input waveform so that it is small enough that the amplitude of the output waveform is
~13 V or less; otherwise, the output waveform will be clipped since the op amp cannot
produce a larger voltage.
Plot measured gain vs. theoretically predicted gain. Are the results in accord with your
expectations? Explain briefly.
3. Next build the non-inverting amplifier circuit shown above, with 1 = 1 k and 2 = 1
k, 2 k, 5 k, 10 kone at a time. Measure each resistance value. Measure the gain
of your amplifier for each value of 2 .
Plot gain vs. 2 . Is the shape, slope, and y-intercept of the plot in accord with your
expectations? Explain.
4. In this Procedure, you will measure the output impedance of your function generator,
which is its Thevenin equivalent resistance. Use the high impedance output of your
function generator, which is labeled HI  on most of the function generators. (If the
function generator doesn't have different outputs, then the one available output is high
impedance. On the function generator-amplifier combo, use the function generator
output without the amplifier connected for this part.) Using any convenient amplitude
from your function generator (which must not be changed during this procedure), use the
'scope to measure the output of your function generator across the following loads: open
circuit, 390 , 510 , 1 k, and 1.5 k. (For the "open circuit" load, the 'scope is still
connected across the function generator's output.) As usual, you should measure each
resistance value with the multimeter.
Make a plot from which you can determine the output impedance of your function
generator. Explain clearly how you determined output impedance from your plot, and
show any relevant derivations.
Next, connect your op amp as a voltage follower, shown above. Use the high impedance
function generator output as the input to the follower. Then, using the same set of loads
as before, try to measure the output impedance of your function generator+follower
combo. Determine the output impedance if you can. If the output impedance is too low
to measure, can you provide an estimate for an upper bound on its value?